The fate of cigarette butts in different environments: Decay rate, chemical changes and ecotoxicity revealed by a 5-years decomposition experiment

Bonanomi, Giuliano; Maisto, Giulia; Marco, Anna De; Cesarano, Gaspare; Zotti, Maurizio; Mazzei, Pierluigi; Libralato, Giovanni; Staropoli, Alessia; Siciliano, Antonietta; Filippis, Francesca De; Storia, Antonietta La; Piccolo, Alessandro; Vinale, Francesco; Crasto, Antonio; Guida, Marco; Incerti, Guido

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114108

Cited by 71 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The second ambient-conditions study examined the decay of CBs in the laboratory and in the field. Field-based CBs in grasslands developed a more fungal dominated community than did the laboratory samples over a 5-yr decomposition experiment, although the decomposing CBs continued to be toxic to the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitatum in laboratory toxicity tests (Bonanomi, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Cigarette butt effects on diatom health in a stream ecosystem

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cigarette butts are a prevalent form of litter containing numerous toxic chemicals. Because cigarette butts are frequently deposited on the ground and carried into water bodies, greater understanding of the toxic effects of cigarette butts in aquatic ecosystems is needed. We examined the toxicity of cigarette butts to algal growth and diatom health-especially pertinent because of the strong ecological role of these organisms. We modified the agar-based nutrientdiffusing substrate method by using cigarette butt leachate (at 10, 5, 2.5, and 1.25 butts/l concentrations), a whole cigarette butt, and a plain agar control. After incubating for 10 days in a small stream, the biofilms from the diffusing substrates were assessed for algal biomass and diatom health (chloroplast intactness and size of lipid bodies in two abundant species of Navicula). There were no significant differences among the cigarette butt treatments for algal biomass or diatom health; hence, evidence of toxic effects was not found. Other studies have demonstrated cigarette butt leachate toxicity to fish and aquatic invertebrates, but these studies were done in closed systems. In contrast, in open stream ecosystems, effluent may be quickly diluted and carried away by water flow, and the complex chemical environment of streams likely includes leachate from a variety of riparian leaves that fell into the stream (i.e., algae are naturally exposed to low concentrations of a wide variety of secondary chemicals). Our results do not preclude the finding of toxicity of cigarette butt effluent to algae, including diatoms, in standard toxicity tests.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Cigarette butt effects on diatom health in a stream ecosystem

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We currently know very little about how the toxicity of cigarette butts may change over time when in the environment, but recent research indicates that butts continue to exude toxic chemicals into the air at least 1 week after being extinguished (Gong et al 2020). Furthermore, Bonanomi et al (2020) found that cellulose acetate cigarette butts remained toxic to the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata after 5 years of degradation in the terrestrial environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the ocean and in fast flowing streams and rivers). Indeed, leachate from smoked cigarette butts can be lethal for freshwater organisms such as microalgae, including Raphidocelis subcapitata (Bonanomi et al 2020), water fleas, including Ceriodaphnia dúbia (Warne et al 2002, Micevska et al 2006, Daphnia magna (Register 2000), fish including Pimephales promelas (Slaughter et al 2011) and amphibians including Hymenochirus curtipes and Clarias gariepinus (Lawal and Ologundudu 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smoked cigarette butt leachate impacts survival and behaviour of freshwater invertebrates

Green

Kregting

Boots

2020

Environmental Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Smoked cigarette filters a.k.a. "butts", composed of plastic (e.g. cellulose acetate) are one of the world's most common litter items. In response to concerns about plastic pollution, biodegradable cellulose filters are being promoted as an environmentally safe alternative, however, once smoked, both contain toxins which can leach once discarded. The impacts of biodegradable butts as littered items on the receiving environment, in comparison with conventional butts has not yet been assessed. A freshwater mesocosm experiment was used to test the effects of leachate from smoked cellulose acetate versus smoked cellulose filters at a range of concentrations (0, 0.2, 1 and 5 butts L -1 ) on the mortality and behaviour of four freshwater invertebrates (Dreissena polymorpha, Polycelis nigra, Planorbis planorbis and Bithynia tentaculata). Leachate derived from 5 butts L -1 of either type of filter caused 60-100% mortality to all species within 5 days. Leachate derived from 1 butt L -1 of either type resulted in adults being less active than those exposed to no or 0.2 butts L -1 leachate. Cigarette butts, therefore, regardless of their perceived degradability can cause mortality and decreased activity of key freshwater invertebrates and should always be disposed of responsibly.

show abstract

“…A possible explanation for the disparity is that the cigarette filters may not be easily fragmented in urban areas and can, therefore, be captured at, for example, the primary screen at the WWTP. Previous research has shown a slow degradation of cigarette filters, especially in the absence of soil [63]. The primary screen at the Sjölunda WWTP is 3 mm [22].…”

Section: Microplastic Typementioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastic Types in the Wastewater System—A Comparison of Material Flow-Based Source Estimates and the Measurement-Based Load to a Wastewater Treatment Plant

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Microplastics are omnipresent in the environment, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been highlighted as a transport pathway. The aim of this study is to contribute to increased understanding of microplastic sources in wastewater and test the possibilities of source tracking. Previous research has focused either on estimating microplastic contribution from various sources or on quantifying occurrence based on measurements. In this paper, these two approaches are compared. Microplastic types detected in the influent to a WWTP in Sweden are compared with estimations of sources in the WWTP catchment area. The total load from the identified sources was estimated to 1.9–14 tonnes/year, and the measurement-based load was 4.2 tonnes/year. In general, there was a good agreement between the two approaches; microplastic types with large shares at the inlet also had large contributions in the source estimates. An exception was cellulose acetate, which was not found at the inlet despite a large theoretical contribution. Many uncertainties remain, which lead to large intervals for the source estimates. The comparison can give an indication into which part of the intervals is most likely. Investigating more WWTPs with different characteristics and including particle morphology will further increase the understanding of sources that contribute to the presence of microplastics in wastewater.

show abstract

The fate of cigarette butts in different environments: Decay rate, chemical changes and ecotoxicity revealed by a 5-years decomposition experiment

Cited by 71 publications

References 34 publications

Cigarette butt effects on diatom health in a stream ecosystem

Cigarette butt effects on diatom health in a stream ecosystem

Smoked cigarette butt leachate impacts survival and behaviour of freshwater invertebrates

Microplastic Types in the Wastewater System—A Comparison of Material Flow-Based Source Estimates and the Measurement-Based Load to a Wastewater Treatment Plant

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About